Ship, boat, and other vehicles provided with aerial turbines



Aug. 14. 1928.

, L. CONSTANTIN ETAL SHIP, BOAT, AND OTHER VEHICLES PROVIDED WITH AERIAL TURBINES 3 Sheets-Shut 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1923 Armin/:78

Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,666

L. CONSTANTIN ET AL SHIP, BOAT, AND OTHER VEHICLES PROVIDED WITH AERIAL TUHBINES Filed Oct. 6, 1923 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTaR/VE r.s.;

Aug. 14. 1928.

L. CONSTANTIN ET AL SHIP, 501w, AND OTHER VEHICLES PROV IDED WITH AERIAL TURBINES Filed Oct. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

ATTo/e/VE Y6.

V boats or other vehicles Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS CONSTANTIN, OF PARIS, AND GASTON DALOZ,

' FRANCE.

OF BECON-LES-BRUYERES,

"SHIP, BOAT, AND OTHER VEHICLES PROVIDED WITH AERIAL TURBINES.

Application filed October 6, 1923, Serial No. 666,968, and in France 0ctober'9, 1922.

This invention relates to improvements adapted to improvethe operationof ships, provided with aerial turbines.

For the sake of clearness, the presentdescription will merely refer to boats, it be ing understood that the. same devices can be used in connection with all other vehicles (carriages, sledges, and the like) provided with aerial turbines. 1

It is well known that a boat can be propelled by means of the wind by providing the same with one orseveral aerial turbines, which are preferably steerable and which derive the power from the wind and transmit the same to one or more propellers through the medium of suitable transmission gears which can include speed changing gearing or boxes andclutches.

However, the operation and steering of a boat which would onlycompri'se the above mentioned parts would show great difficulties. In order to make its use a practical one, it is necessary to adjoin to the same some other parts which will be hereinafter described.

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows in section the boat provided for more clearness, with a single turbine and a single propeller.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a propeller blade.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a device for orienting the propeller.

Figs. 4 and?) arerespectively an elevation and a plan view or a modification of the device for orienting the propeller.

Fig. 5 is a separate view of a detail of F ig. 1

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a device for balance ing the reaction due to the couple of rotation of the turbine.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and a plan view of a modification of said device.

1 denotes the boat; 2, the turbine; 3, the transmission; 4 the propeller; and the arrow 33 denotes the direction of the wind.

In the example represented, the turbine is only provided with two blades.

Nevertheless, it is obvious that the power which is captured by the same and which is in proportion to the cube of the relative speed of the wind, can become too large, considering the strength of the whole, when the speed of wind increases beyonda certain limit. To this purpose,'it has already been proposed to make this turbine like the wings of a wind-mill, that is to say to use a frame or lattice-work covered with canvas or cloth and to brail-up the latter:

A better means, which is a more mechanical one, consists in making each blade of two or more parts, in such manner that the extreme parts can be successively removed,- the diameter being thus reduced and the acting power diminished.

Fig. 2 shows such a blade made of two parts. The frame of this blade is formed of two tubes 5 and 6, the latter of which is of a smaller diameter and of a greater length than the former which is adapted to betelescoped thereover and be secured thereto by means of a bolt 7. The blade is provided with ribs 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the inlet and outletedges 12 and 13. these edges being cut at the place of the ribs 10 and 11, in

order to give to the outline of the blade the required shape. A covering which is also cut at theribs 10 and ll completes the blade.

It is clear that when the bolt 7 is removed, the whole of the extreme part of the blade can be easily separated from the central part, the rib 10 remaining attached to the turbine because it is secured to the tube 5 and the ribs 11 and 9 moving with the extreme part because they are secured to the tube 6.

Another exceedingly useful device consists in a brake acting to slow downand then stop the, revolution of the turbine. This brakecan be interposed in any point of the transmitting gear. It is shown at 14 in Fig. 1 and is controlled by the lever 15.

It may be of advantage to operate this lever from the helming station for example, through the medium of any mechanical transmission and a pedal or treadle.

The question of steering is also of a very great importance. The steering can be controlled through a mechanical transmission. But in this case, it is of the greatest interest to make the same irreversible. This result can be very easily obtained in interposing in the transmission a Worm with a tangent Wheel. 7

In Fig. 1 this worm transmission is shown at 16.

In case the automatic steering would be at the same time provided, it would be necessary to also interpose a connecting and dis-- IOU automatic one it has been. proposed to place the turbine at the front of the poi-t supperin; the same with reference to the wind and to place at the back oi the post a steering vane.

A simpler means consists in placing the turbine at. the bacl: of the post relatively to the wind. The thrust acting upon the same then supplies a couple voi" steering which can be increased by the use of a vane placed still i'urther backwards. in Fig. l, the turbine 2 placed in this manner relatively to the direction oi. the wind.

In large turbines. it is to be feared that this couple oi? steering will still be insullicient. It is then necessary to use a more powerful mechanical device. Anyone oi the two hereinafter described devices can be used.

These devices are both improved by the use of the Constantin vane or wind-cock which is described in the tonstantin U. Patent application, Serial No. a 3.367, tiled Severnher 2nd, l92l, which as it is well known, composed of two surfaces symmet ric a l mounted on a trapezoidal motion and possessing 11111011; others the l'ollowingproperties: multiplication as large as desired otthe small deflections of the relative wind and possibility of arranging the surfaces, in front of the joint-s.

Fig. 3 shows the first of the two devices as proposed. The principle of the same is as follows: I

A vane or wind-cock, and preferably a Constantin vane gears in and out two gears connected with the shalt of the aerial tun bine. lVhen they are in gear, these gears, due to a suitable transmission, revolve in a reverse direction the one with reference to the other, in deriving their power from this; shaft. They then roll over a fixed gear wheel or crown and drive along the aerial turbine until, after the desired direction has been obtained,- the vane causes the same to come out of gear.

In Fig, 3, which is a plan view, lb denotes the shaft oil the turbine conn cted with the gear wheel 19. The latter revolves about its vertical. axis when a steering motion takes place and drives the shaft 18.

The shalt 18 arries a. pinion E20 which causes the two toothed wheels and 22 lo revolve in a reverse direction. Upon the shafts of these wh eis are respectively mount ed the clutches 23 and Eli and the gears 25 and 26. These shafts are also connected with the gear wheel 19 and move along with it in'the steering motions. A support, which has not been represented, imparts stillness to these shafts. The gears 95 and 20 roll upon the f xed toothed crown 27.

The shaft 28 of the vane is also connected with the crown or gear wheel 19. The levers 29 and 30 are connected with the clutches 23 and 2d through cables 31 and 32.

The operation of the whole will then be easily understood. Assuming that the relative wind passes from the direction 33 to the direction iii, the cable 32 slackens and exerts no action upon the clutch 24. On the contrary, the cable 31 engages the clutch 23 which begins to revolve and drives the whole system in the direction of the arrow 35, until the plane of revolution of the turbine is at rightangle to the direction iii of the no w relative wind.

It it is desired to do away with the action of the vane or wind-cock, it then only necessary to lock the two clutches 23 and 2i.

The second device which is shown in clevation and in plan in Figs. 4 and 5 is based upon the use oi? an auxiliary wind motor 36 constituted by paddles or blades having symmetrical proliles with references to two rectangular iDIlOS. As it is well known and as itcan be seen from Fig. 5, which is an end view of the motor 36 brought down to the ri 'h such a wind motor has reverse re- 7 direction; according as the came is strum. by the relative wind on one of its faces or on the opposite face.

This wind motor is connected, through the medium oi a support which is not represented in the drawing, to the lever'ilil of a vane or wind-cock, preferably a Constantin vane which has the property of giving a large deflection for a very small deflection of the relative wind.

W hen the latter is in the direction 33, the wind motor is struck sidewise and does not move. \Vhen the same comes to the direction 3 1, the lever :29 and consequently the wind motor come for example to a position at (50 from their original direction. The wind motor will start to rotate thereby transmitting its motion, with the suitable reduction of speed. to the gear 37 (Fig. 4) through the medium of the transmission gear 38. The gear rolling upon the fixed gear wheel 2? will operate the whole system connected with the movable gear wheel 19 in the direction 535, that is to say it will direct, the turbine in the direction of the wind.

Slmuld the wind be deflected in the other dire tion with reference to 33, the revolving motion would take place in the reverse direction.

A disconnecting device shown at 45 will allow the vane or wind-cock to be placed out of gear.

Another factor which is to be taken into consideration regarding the good operation of the boat, that is the question of the reaction due to the couple of rotation of the turbine. It is known that this reaction caused bythe gearings tends to set in a. false way the direction or steering of this turbine.

This effect can be corrected in different manners:

Fig. 6 shows the way how to proceed.

If the turbine has, for instance, a tendency.

cording to a notation which is well known inaerodynamics) and slightly inclined with reference to the direction 33 of the wind. The resistance to the forward or progressing motion K which is thus produced is very small. All these surfaces are of course connected with the movable crown or gear wheel 19.

Another means is represented in Fig. '2' and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a side view of the gear wheel 19 shown in plan inFig. 8. This gear wheel is no longer a vertical cylinder but is constituted by two cylinders 41 and 42 secured the one to the other, the one being vertical and the other being inclined, but capable of revolving both about the directing or steering axis 43.

It is clear that in these conditions, the thrust which is exerted upon the turbine through the direction of wind 33 will give, relatively to the axis of revolution 43, a couple which is capable of balancing the reaction generated by the gears according to the arrow 35 if the distances .are well calculated. Of course, the transmission shaft within the two cylinders 41 and 42 will be divided and provided with universal joints.

The two devices for automatic steering which have been hereinbefore described can obviously be also used for overcoming this reaction.

It has been proposed to interpose between the aerial turbine. and the marine propeller a speed changing gear or box adapted to allow of obtaining for the latter the best possible yielding, but never has a rule been given so as to allow of determining a priori the gearing ratios of this speed changing gear or gear box.

It may be said in the first place that, in order to facilitate the operation, it is necessary to have a back runnmg gear. The landings will then become much easier.

On the other hand, it is possible to reason as follows:

Let V be the speed of the wind relatively to the water.

Let Q; be the speed of progression, wind ahead of boat.

Let Q) be the speed of progression, wind athwart of boat.

Let c be the speed of progression, wind aft of boat.

N, N, N the speeds of revolution of the turbine corresponding with wind ahead,v

wind athwart and wind aft: n, n, n the speeds of revolution of the propeller correspending with wind ahead, wind athwart and wind aft.

D, the diameter of the turbine,

(l, the diameterof the propeller.

Let is suppose that the size, the pitch and the speeds of revolution of the turbine and the propeller are calculated'so as to give the maximum output when sailing wind ahead.

It is advisable if possible to maintain this same output for all speeds or rates.

It is well known that such is the case for the turbine and the propeller when a certain well determined ratio is maintained between the relative progressing speed of the fluid and the product of the speed of rotation by the diameter.

What is then obtained is:

Y and Y being two characteristic constants of the maximum yielding for the turbine and the'propeller taken into consideration.

The deduction is that:

These relations afford a means to calculate the ratios N, N and N which are the most favourable, if the rates o, o and o are known.

In the same way one can calculate the most favourable ratio corresponding to the run in any azimuth relatively to the wind.

As, in practice, '0, o and o" are speeds or rates of the same order, we have:

which means that as the wind changes relative to the boat from ahead to aft, the ratio of the rate of the propeller to that of the turbine must become greater until the maximum ratio for sailing wind aft is attained. The gear ratio corresponding to the travel with Wind ahead should be the minimum.

What we claim is i 1. In a device of the type described moved by aerial turbines driving propellers, a brake placed upon-the transmission, means for operating the same by foot from the lielming'post, a driven system for orienting the aerial turbines, means for locking the said system, means for connecting or disconnecting at will the said system.

2. In a device of. the type described moved by aerial turbines driving propellers, a brake placed upon the transmission, means for operating the same by foot from the helming post, a driven system for orienting! the aerial turbines, means for locking the said system, means for connecting or dis connecting at will the said system, the disposition of the aerial turbines at the back of their supporting post relatively to the Wind.

3. In a device of the type described movedby aerial turbines driving propellers, a brake placed upon the transmission, means for operating the same by foot from the helniing post, a driven system for orienting the aerial turbines, means for locking the said system, means for connecting or disconnecting at will the said system, the disposition of the aerial turbines at the back of their supporting post relatively to the wind, and means for altering the action of the wind including clisconmctabic 'anes.

4. In a device of thetype described moved by aerial turbines driving propellers, a brake placed upon the transmission, means for operating); the same by foot from the helming, post, a driven systmn t'or orienting the aerial. turbines and devices for balancing the reaction due to the couple of rotation of the turbines consisting in auxiliary surfaces placed at an angle to the direction of the Wind, the surfaces having in this case profiles with good litt coeflicient and being placed in front of the. corresponding turbine relatively to the wind.

In testimony whereof We have signed this specification.

LOUIS CONSTANTIN. GASTON DALOZ. 

